FNPS Plant Database

Dalea carnea

hammock prairie-clover, whitetassels
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

hammock prairie-clover, whitetassels

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Dalea carnea

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1 ft tall by 3-5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

pink

Fruit Color:

green,brown,NA

Phenology:

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden. This is a low, wide-spreading plant that will do well near the front of the garden.

Considerations:

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for southern dogface ( Zerene cesonia ).





Attracts pollinators, especially bees.

Birds and other small wildlife consume seeds (in pods). 

Native Habitats:

Dry flatwoods.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Because it's a legume, it will grow well in poor soil.



There are multiple subspecies.  

Citations:

Huegel, Craig, N.  2012.  Native wildflowers and other ground covers for Florida landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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